
1956 PORSCHE 356 A CARRERA 1500 GS SPEEDSTER
Engine type 547/1 #90638 / Chassis # 82189
Conceived in 1955 by Max Hoffman, then USA distributor for Porsche, the Speedster soon became highly coveted by American sports car enthusiasts for the performance and handling that this lightened and specially geared 356 version gave them. This, together with allied transmission and handling improvements, produced a poised and desirable combination that made the Speedster into the quintessential sports car or weekend racer.
The introduction of the race-bred 1500cc Four-Cam engine in 1955 offered a substantial increase in both performance and price over the standard (push-rod engine) version. Badged “Carrera” in honour of Porsche’s 1st and 2nd in class finish (and 3rd and 4th overall) at the 1954 Carrera Panamericana race, the type 547/1 1498cc engine produced 100 hp and 110 hp in GT configuration.
Whilst some 3,944 Speedsters were delivered with pushrod engines, a total of just 151 Speedsters were fitted with the more advanced and desirable Carrera engine.
Chassis #82189
Delivered new in 1956 via Hoffman to the USA and originally finished in (603) White with Black leatherette interior. By some accounts the car may have been raced in early years, but very little is known about it before it was re-imported to Germany in 1992 and purchased a year later by collector Hans Reuter. Once restored, though painted red at the time, the car was depicted in Dr Michel Thiriar’s 1998 book, Porsche Speedster: The Evolution of the Porsche Lightweight Sportster, 1947–1994.
The car was sold to Italy in circa 2008 and registered with a collector in Brecia. It is also equipped with an original set of Rudge wheels, which are rare items that alone are estimated in value up to €35,000. Later the car was repainted back to its original colour (603) White and interior re-trimmed in red leather, before being sold to the current owner in 2014 and registered in the UK.
This beautifully presented Carrera Speedster has been maintained by us since coming to the UK and retains it matching-numbers Type 547/1 engine, a correct tool kit with spanner for the Rudge wheels and is offered with UK V5C and UK taxes paid.
A rare example of one of the most beautiful Porsches ever made, which can be equally enjoyed for its high-revving performance and incredible sounding engine.
Baujahr: | 1956 |
Modell: | 356 (Pre A) Carrera Speedster |
Karosserie: | Cabriolet |
Baureihe: | 356 |
Hubraum: | 1,5 Liter |
Lenkung: | links |
Getriebe: | Manuell |
Antrieb: | Heckantrieb |
Kraftstoff: | Benzin |
Innenfarbe: | Schwarz |
Innenmaterial: | Kunstleder |
Außenfarbe: | Weiß |
Hersteller Farbbezeichnung (außen): | (603) White |
Neu / gebraucht: | Gebrauchtwagen |
Fahrbereit: | ja |
Land der Erstauslieferung: | Vereinigte Staaten |